Go Big: Mike Downey’s Take on the 2025 U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach

The 2025 U.S. Open of Surfing is well underway in Huntington Beach, drawing thousands of fans, world-class athletes, and industry legends to Surf City, USA. Stretching from July 26 to August 3, this year’s event features a mix of World Longboard Tour heats, Challenger Series showdowns, and a high-energy festival on the sand. But beyond the tents, waves, and cheering crowds lies a deeper heartbeat of the event, the people who’ve shaped HB surf culture for decades.

One of them is Mike Downey, affectionately known as the “HB Shark Whisperer” and a true icon in the local surf scene. Honored as a 2021 Surfing Walk of Fame Local Hero, Downey’s legacy is built not on flashy medals but on a lifetime of coaching, judging, protecting, and celebrating the ocean lifestyle.

We caught up with Mike this week on the pier to get his take on this year’s event and what newcomers should know.

It’s a divine entertainment show.

That’s how Downey describes the feeling of watching elite surfers ride “spinning walls of water made by God.”

This year’s Open has already seen rising names like J.R. Essel take early leads in the Longboard Classic, and returning stars like Rachel Tilly and Taylor Jensen are expected to hit the finals next weekend. With good swell forecasted and sunny skies ahead, crowds of up to 450,000 are expected to descend on the beach.

Downey’s advice for competitors?

“Go big. You gotta do it. This is Surf City. Don’t hold back.”

It’s that blend of grit and joy that defines Huntington Beach surf culture. For Downey, who still surfs regularly and has taught countless newcomers how to stay safe and stoked in the water, the U.S. Open isn’t just a competition, it’s a community celebration.

Mike’s Must-Do Tips for Visitors

If you’re coming into town for the Open, Mike has a few tips:

Take your shoes off. Step in the sand, feel the earth. “You might as well enjoy what the ocean has to offer,” he says.
Check out the combo swell. Right now, the lineup is seeing three different swell directions converge, which Downey says creates “a waffle iron” of wave texture that makes for thrilling, unpredictable rides.
Visit Harriet Weider Park. According to Mike, it’s the best outdoor gym in town, right before Bolsa Chica, heading north.
Listen for the starlings. Yes, seriously. “60,000 little brown birds with white dots” land in the nearby wetlands every year. When they sing at night, “it sounds like they’re being directed by a conductor.” Only in HB. But they won’t arrive for another couple of weeks.

Final Weekend Forecast

The finals are expected to run from August 2 to 3, with the Challenger Series drawing top-tier shortboarders, including Sai Fitzgib and Al Cleland Jr. Several Olympic athletes may also make surprise appearances as the week winds down.

Even if you’re not a surfer, there’s something for everyone, from live DJ sets and athlete signings to motocross shows and brand demos.

Downey puts it best:

“It’s a happy time for everybody.”

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